Polo Rocha is a Mexico-based freelance reporter who worked at American Banker from 2021 to early 2025, covering consumer finance and national banking trends. He previously covered the Federal Reserve at S&P Global Market Intelligence and state politics at WisPolitics.com. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has a master's in finance degree from Johns Hopkins University.
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Pro basketball sponsorships have long been the domain of banks and other traditional advertisers. But now companies like Chime, LendingTree and FTX.us are making their names known through partnerships with NBA teams.
By Polo RochaJuly 19 -
The agreement will likely end a three-year-old dispute over allegations that the company misled borrowers by promising no hidden fees on its consumer loans.
By Polo RochaJuly 15 -
The bank's noninterest expenses fell by 8% in the second quarter — a sign that CEO Charlie Scharf is making progress in reining in spending that had been soaring in recent years amid heightened regulatory scrutiny. He ultimately hopes to reduce gross expenditures by $8 billion annually.
By Polo RochaJuly 14 -
The credit card issuer’s move will increase the pay of more than 5,000 employees. Numerous banks have recently raised their minimum wages in a competitive labor market.
By Polo RochaJuly 13 -
PNC, Regions and TD are among the banks that have taken steps to reduce their reliance on charges that disproportionately hit consumers living paycheck to paycheck. The changes come at a time when the Biden administration is expected to take a tougher stance on overdrafts.
July 13 -
Wells CEO Charlie Scharf, a former Jamie Dimon protege, has surrounded himself with JPMorgan Chase alumni. Ling will start in October and join the company’s operating committee.
By Polo RochaJuly 8 -
Prosecutors have rested their case against onetime bank CEO Stephen Calk, who allegedly approved millions of dollars in loans in exchange for a potential job in the Trump administration. Federal Savings Bank employees have testified against Calk, whose lawyers have sought to shift blame to underlings
By Polo RochaJuly 8 -
The Spanish bank’s U.S. holding company said it will pay a premium to purchase the publicly traded shares in Santander Consumer Holdings. The proposal is subject to the approval of the auto lender’s board of directors.
By Polo RochaJuly 2 -
CEO Richard Fairbank told employees they can continue to work remotely on Monday and Friday, though the company is still encouraging them to “spend meaningful time” in the office collaborating.
By Polo RochaJune 30 -
Nine of the 12 largest banking companies in the U.S. proposed higher quarterly payouts to shareholders. In announcing the actions, the banks touted their strength after more than a year of economic dislocation.
June 28 -
In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court said that a majority of plaintiffs in a class action were not entitled to damages because the credit reporting company did not share faulty information with banks, landlords or other third parties.
By Polo RochaJune 25 -
Gripes against peer-to-peer payments services spiked during the past year as U.S. consumers flocked to Venmo, Cash App, Zelle and the like to transfer money.
By Polo RochaJune 22 -
Cannabis, though still illegal at the federal level, continues to inch into the financial mainstream. Small credit unions and lenders as large as Valley National and East West have moved beyond just taking deposits from marijuana companies.
By Polo RochaJune 21 -
Julie Caperton, a longtime executive at the $1.9 trillion-asset bank, succeeds Julia Wellborn, who left the company in April.
By Polo RochaJune 18 -
Inventory shortfalls continue to constrain commercial lending, while the savings glut is holding back consumer borrowing, industry executives say. The good news: At some banks, pipelines are at or above pre-pandemic levels.
June 16 -
Under the deal, the $425 billion-asset bank will become the exclusive card issuer for the home furnishings retailer, which long partnered with Alliance Data Systems.
By Polo RochaJune 15 -
KMD Partners, which makes high-interest rate loans through its CreditNinja brand, has agreed to acquire the $11.7 million-asset Liberty Bank. The purchase is likely to draw scrutiny, but the companies argue that it will help borrowers with lower credit scores qualify for less expensive loans.
By Polo RochaJune 15 -
Brian Doubles, who became the card issuer’s chief executive in April, also expressed optimism that pent-up consumer demand will spur renewed spending this year.
By Polo RochaJune 10 -
The product, which will compete against Citi’s Double Cash card, is the first step in CEO Charlie Scharf’s revamp of a business segment that has long trailed top competitors.
By Polo RochaJune 8 -
Even though industry economists and Federal Reserve officials expect the recent price surge to wane, some big-bank executives are expressing concern about the risk of an inflationary spiral hindering the recovery from the pandemic recession.
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